Rope-climber or combination fire-escape



(No Model.)

Patented Apr. 13, 1897-.

ummm

5 INVENTOR WITNESSES M4 ATTORNEYS.

Finns no, Pumouruc NiTn STATES ATnNT Trina ERNEST N. MONEY, OF JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA.

ROPE-CLIMBER OR COMBINATION FIRE-ESCAPE, 80o.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 580,794, dated April 13, 189'?.

To all whom it may concern.:

Beit known that I, ERNEST N. MONEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jacksonville, in the county of Duval and State of Florida, have invented certain new and use-A ful Improvements in Rope-Climbers or Combination Fire-Escapes and Rope-Climbers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for use in ascending or descending a rope or cable, andis more particularly designed for use as a means of escape from a burning building.

My invention will be understood-by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein similar parts are indicated by similar letters throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is an elevation of my device as applied to a rope or cable, .illustrating the same as to be used by both the hands andV feet. Fig. 2 is a vertical section, enlarged, of the foot device shown in Fig. l, the said section being taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the foot device shown in section in Fig. 2.

In Figs. l, 2, and 3, A represents a hollow` cylindrical casing having side openin gs A0 at opposite points therein.

B represents a metallic plate pivoted at its upper end between lugs A on the cylindrical casing A and provided upon its inner face with teeth or projections b. There are two Tof these pivoted plates B, each provided with teeth or projections, as above described, and each of said pivoted plates has formed integral therewith or rigidly attached thereto at or near the pivotal point thereof a laterallyextending arm, which may be either in the form of a hand-grip, as shown at B/ in Fig. l, or in the form of a foot-rest, as shown at B2 in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. This foot-rest should be provided with a strap to extend over the foot, as shown at b2, for reasons hereinafter to be described.

In use for descending a rope or cable the person puts his feet upon the foot-rests B2 beneathl the straps b2 in the foot-section of my device and with his hands grips the hand-grips Application led December 16, 1896. Serial Nofl. (No model.)

B of the upper or hand section of the device. By an alternate releasing of the upper and lower sections, by liftingon the hand-grips and foot-rests, respectively, and thus withdrawing the teeth from the cable, the person may safely and quickly descend `the rope, as will be easily understood. The strap lf2 above referred to allows the person to pull up on the foot-rests, as will be obvious, and thus release the foot-section readily.

It is not necessary in descending the rope to make use of the upper or hand section, as the person may take hold of the rope or cable itself, the principal weight being put upon the foot-section.

In ascending the rope the operation is sim- .ply the reverse of that in descending, the two sections being alternately released and raised, as will be obvious.

It will be seen that my climbers may be used upon a rope that has been placed permanently in position for use, or they maybe used upon a rope that is kept stowed away near a window or balcony in readiness to be thrown out for use when desired.

As hereinbefore stated, the hand-climber is not absolutely necessary, as the rope may be grasped by the hands and held while the feet are raised or lowered, as the case maybe.

The many advantages of the herein -described devices will be apparent to any practical mind.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by LettersD Patent of the United States, is-

l. In a rope-climber, the combination with a casing adapted to encircle the rope; of a pair of jaws pivoted at their upper ends to operate in openings in opposite sides of said casing; sharpened teeth provided upon the inner faces of said pivoted jaws, laterally-extending arms'rigidly mounted upon said jaws, and means for inclosing the feet of a person provided upon said laterally-extending arms, substantially as described.

2. In a re-escape, the combination with a rope or cable, of a gripping device for the hands consisting of a pair of pivoted jaws provided upon opposite sides of said rope and provided with sharpened teeth upon the inner faces and hand-grips rigidly mounted IOO consisting of a pair of pivoted jawsprovided upon opposite sides of said rope and provided with sharpened teeth upon the inner faces and laterally-extending foot-rests rigidly mounted upon said jaws, and provided With means for confining the feet of a person thereon, substantially is described.

In testimony whereof I affix my'signature in presence of two' Witnesses.

ERNEST N. MONEY.

1Witn esses;

M. E. PRESSLEY, J. A. THOMPSON. 

